Annual Report

2012

Continuing

Dennis Stein, President

Rod Howe, Secretary

Leslie Chatterton

Lisken Cordes

Tom Hoard

Julee Johnson

Charles Pomada

Mary Stoe

Tracy Vosburgh

Through May 2012

Tania Werbizky, President

Evan Kopelson, Secretary

Molly Adams

David Stinson

Carol Travis

Through December 2012

John Snyder

BOARD OF DIRECTORS STAFF

Historic Ithaca’s mission is to promote the value and enhancement of our historic buildings and neighborhoods

through education, advocacy, and action.

Alphonse F. Pieper, Executive Director

Kristen Olson, Preservation Services Coordinator

Sara Johnson, Work Preserve Program Manager

Robert Kauffman, Work Preserve Traditional Building & Crafts

Karen Coleman, Work Preserve Education & Outreach

Ana Castillo, Intern

Tobi Hines, Intern

Tom Olson, Intern

212 Center Street, Ithaca NY 14850 (607) 273-6633

On the cover: Two houses on South Albany Street in Ithaca are part of the Henry St. John Historic District, Ithaca’s newest designated district and the subject of Historic Ithaca’s 2012 That Old House Tour.

Other photographs courtesy of Molly Adams, Paul Anderson, James Cordes, Rod Howe, and Julee Johnson.

www.historicithaca.org www.significantelements.org

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VOLUNTEERS Judy Burns

Ken Bush

Corey Earle

Jordan Edwards

Izzi Frieden

Teresa Halpert

Tobi Hines

Randi Kepecs

Neha Khanna

Caitlin Kolb

Sherri LaTorre-Ovaska

Jessie Lind

Ethan Mancil

Dana McCalla

Ashley Miller

Lauren Mossotti-Kline

Miriam Musco

Ariana Olsen

Christine O’Malley

Robert Rector

Nancy Robbins

Sarah Rodriguez

Sara Rovitz

2012 was a year of transition, opportunities and action for Historic Ithaca. We bid a fond farewell to outgoing Board members Molly Adams, Evan Kopelson, John Snyder, Dave Stinson, Carol Travis and Tania Werbizky. A special hats off to Tania, our Board president for four years, who capably led Historic Ithaca through a very challenging period. At the same time we welcomed new Board members Leslie Chatterton, Rod Howe and Julee Johnson, who have already demonstrated their spirit and energy.

During 2012 we offered special events including popular tours of the Henry St. John neighborhood, of Cornell’s magnificent Greek houses, and of the Ithaca City Cemetery, set new sales records at our architectural salvage warehouse Significant Elements, advocated in public and in the press on various critical preservation issues, and established the annual Joseph O. Ciaschi Preservation Excellence Award to recognize the work of outstanding local preservation leaders.

To guide the work of Historic Ithaca forward, the Board embarked on a 5-year strategic plan, to be completed in late 2013. Through this work Historic Ithaca re-affirms its role, after 46 years, as Tompkins County’s only county-wide organization advocating for special places in our community.

We cherish Historic Ithaca‘s many supporters--you, our Friends-- who share the belief that our rich local architectural fabric is irreplaceable and contributes greatly to our quality of life. With your help, we pledge to continue to celebrate our unique spaces and speak out on the many important preservation and planning issues ahead in Ithaca and the towns and villages of Tompkins County.

President’s Message

Director’s Message

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Our 46th year was one of the most exciting in recent memory. We completed two large consulting projects for the City of Ithaca, giving historic designation to an entire new historic district near downtown and documenting twelve historic properties in Collegetown. Work Preserve, our job training program for youth and young adults, expanded with a pilot entrepreneurial youth summer program, which will repeat in 2013. I hope you’ll visit our store or our newly-expanded library soon to see our hardworking staff and volunteers in action.

And there is much work still to be done. The loss of the old Ithaca City Hall, Cornell Public Library, and other beloved downtown landmarks (see timeline on back cover) led to Historic Ithaca’s founding in 1966. At that time, the threat to downtown was from new suburban development on the fringe. Today, we are seeing tremendous new investment downtown, but this new development is higher and denser at the expense of existing historic buildings – buildings we know (and studies demonstrate) make for a more livable, economically vibrant, and sustainable community. I hope you’ll join us in the months ahead to make sure that new development is in the best interest of our community and complements our rich architectural heritage.

We believe that the care and maintenance of existing buildings is the most sustainable practice, the ultimate act of recycling. We design our technical services, classes and special events to educate members of our community and to ensure that our historic resources are cared for and last far into the future.

Historic Ithaca has much to be proud of and I am extremely grateful for the support of our Friends and the dedication of our community partners; it makes our work that much more worthwhile. Thank you!

Education

19 Events Total Attendance: 732

Our popular Preservation Basics Series continued in 2012 with

classes on Researching Your House History, What Style Is It?, The

Evolution of the Kitchen, and Maintenance for the Older Home. We

took some of the classes “on the road” to TC Lifelong, where

participants in the styles class were able to see nearby examples of the

most common historic residential styles in our region.

The June Hands-On Window Workshop, in its third year, brought

13 participants to Historic Ithaca for a daylong introduction to

window design, restoration & repair, and weatherization. Since 2010,

HI has trained 47 people in window repair, including one contractor

who then started his own business providing professional window

restoration services in Tompkins County and beyond.

A collaboration among Historic Ithaca, The History Center

in Tompkins County, Cornell University’s Historic

Preservation Planning Program, and Ithaca College’s

Architectural Studies Program resulted in a pilot program

bringing undergraduate and graduate students from the two

schools together to explore archival resources for researching

historic buildings. The program grew out of the 2011-2012

William H. Miller exhibit co-sponsored by The History

Center and Historic Ithaca.

Volunteer Ashley Miller shows off her

repaired bentwood chair. She wove a new

cane seat under the guidance of Rob

Kauffman, our in-house furniture expert.

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“You all did a great job and really got me moving into restoring my own windows. Thank you.” - a Window Workshop participant

Community Engagement & Advocacy

Net raised through special

events to support HI’s programs:

$8,996

We took the message of historic preservation and

sustainability to community events, including the

Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off, the Tompkins County

Building and Remodeling Association Home & Garden

Show, the Sustainable Tompkins Earth Day celebration,

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Compost Fair, and the

Ithaca Festival’s Gorges Green Expo.

Our spring That Old House Tour showcased the Henry St. John

neighborhood, designated by Common Council as Ithaca’s newest historic

district in early 2013. The fall fundraiser, Historic Ithaca Speaks Greek,

took participants on a tour of ten Cornell University fraternity and sorority

houses, followed by a gala reception at Greystone Lodge, home of Sigma

Chi and former home of silent film star Irene Castle. The popular annual

Halloween Graveyard Tour returned to the Ithaca City Cemetery, where

visitors learned about gravestone art while “meeting” individuals from

Ithaca’s past.

Friends of Historic Ithaca attended an exclusive hardhat tour

of the historic Cowdry House, under renovation to become the

Argos Inn at 408 East State Street. And, as always, we

welcomed supporters to our Annual Meeting and

Preservation Awards and to our Holiday Party.

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Outgoing board President Tania Werbizky (far right)

presents a resolution establishing the Joseph O. Ciaschi

Preservation Excellence Award to family and friends

of the late Joe Ciaschi.

“What a wonderful afternoon you gave us all! It added depth to my perception of Ithaca architecture as a whole.” - Frank Robinson

Preservation Services

As consultant to the City of Ithaca, Historic Ithaca

documented 15 historically significant Collegetown

properties for potential designation as local landmarks,

and wrote the nomination document for the Henry St.

John Historic District, which was designated by Ithaca

Common Council in February 2013. We also wrote a

successful nomination to the National Register of

Historic Places for the Montour Falls Union

Grammar School, recently converted to apartments,

offices, and a child care center. Buildings in the Henry

St. John district and the Montour Falls school are now

eligible for New York State Rehabilitation Tax Credits.

Historic Ithaca spoke out in support of historic preservation on

projects including the Commons redesign, the expansion of

Cornell University’s Law School, and the retention of historic

stone sidewalks in the City of Ithaca. Our staff participated as

members of the City of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan

Committee, the Forest Home Bridge Working Group, and

as stakeholders in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Path Through

History project.

39 Consultations and Referrals

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79 Buildings Given Historic Designation

as a result of HI’s consulting work

“You made my day! Thanks for your great research.” - Bill Diehl

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Participants worked a total

4,386 hours

Significant Elements visitors: 12,794

Significant Elements

Now in its third year, our Work Preserve Job Training Program

expanded in 2012 with an additional staff position, enhanced training

opportunities, and a pilot summer program for teens. Launched in

2010, with support from the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency and the

Park Foundation, Work Preserve provides youth and young adults with

training in customer service, retail, furniture repair, and facility

maintenance skills in a supportive workplace environment.

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2012 was a great year for Significant Elements, with a 24% increase in sales and over 23 tons of

material diverted from the waste stream. In April, Significant Elements became the newest location

for the Family Reading Partnership’s Bright Red Bookshelf, providing free, gently-used books

to local families.

Work Preserve

“I love the place! We shop here all the time and you’re great neighbors” - Jack Whittaker

“I am learning and enjoy working with others to get projects done. I worked with a team to build our new fence … This fence is built to last and it is beautiful. Every time I walk past it I am reminded that my help was important and how much fun I had.” - a Work Preserve participant

Organizational Sustainability

Income

Total Income: $273,867*

Fundraising

Total Fundraising: $58,406

* Includes approximately $55,000 in restricted funds to be spent in 2013

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“Historic Ithaca has been blessed with a core group of supporters who have been with us for many, many years.”

Over the past five years our board and staff have been focusing on ensuring Historic Ithaca’s financial stability. We are taking a critical look at our business practices, making changes where needed, increasing the capacity of our board, securing funding to carry out our work and developing plans for the future.

Our largest source of funding is Significant Elements, with sales increasing each year, followed by local, state and foundation grants, and support from individuals and businesses. We are working to build our Technical Services offerings in order to increase revenue from consulting fees.

We were successful in 2012 in raising approxi-mately $38,000 for replacement of the roof at 212 Center Street, which will take place in spring of 2013. Special thanks go to Assemblywoman Barbra Lifton for her tremendous help in securing these funds. Other restricted funds reflected in 2012 income include grants to support our Work Preserve program in the 2012-2013 program year.

Our largest expense is employee payroll. We are conscious of the need to ensure equitable pay for our dedicated team, and we plan to improve this over the next five years.

Most importantly, Historic Ithaca has been blessed with a core group of supporters who have been with us for many, many years. We cannot thank our Friends and business supporters enough for helping to make our work possible. We have much work ahead of us to ensure complete financial stability but we are on the right path.

Payroll 64%

Mortgage and Occupancy

12%

Equipment, Tools & Office

Supplies 7%

Marketing Expenses 5%

Cost of Goods Sold

(Signif icant Elements) 5%

Fundraising Expenses 3%

Professional Fees 3%

Other 1%Total Expenses: $205,761

Expenses

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Special Thanks to Our Supporters

Business Supporters

Alumnae Panhellenic Advisory Council Alumni Inter-Fraternity Council Audrey Edelman Realty USA Baker Travel Crawford & Stearns, Architects Foster Custom Kitchens Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services Johnson-Schmidt & Associates Nelson Development Group On Balance Solutions PPM Homes Pritchard Automotive Schickel Construction Sciarabba Walker & Co. Sparks Electric Stewart Howe

Grants and Foundations

The Brooks Family Foundation Joseph Steuer, The Comey-Fitzgerald Family Foundation The Community Foundation of Tompkins County The New York State Council on the Arts New York State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency The Park Foundation The Social Service League of Ithaca Sustainable Tompkins

Donated Goods & Services

Arnold Printing Corporation Bandwagon Brewery Ciaschi, Dietershagen, Little, Mickelson & Company, LLP Eastern Inspection Group Ithaca Bakery Just A Taste La Tourelle Inn / August Moon Spa Red Feet Wine Market Sheldrake Point Vineyard Molly and Barry Adams David Halpert and Teresa Halpert Deschanes Tom Herson Carol Kammen Charlie Pomada Diana Riesman and Frederick Cowett Tracy Vosburgh and Peter Potter

“I support Historic Ithaca because I like that someone cares about our historic houses and buildings and looks out for them.” - R.C.

Friends of Historic Ithaca $1000 and greater

Molly and Barry Adams Lisken and James Cordes Evan Kopelson and Rae Ostman Ellen McCollister and Robert Frank Avi Smith Dennis Stein

Friends of Historic Ithaca $250-$999

Steven and Beverly Beer Ronald Chapman and Tracy Farrell Leslie Chatterton and Allyson Ford Ann Clavel Elsie Gutchess David Halpert and Teresa Halpert Deschanes Carman and Sandra Hill Margaret Hobbie and Roger Haydon Julee Johnson Timothy and Elizabeth Mount Bard and Gina Prentiss Eric Rosario and Neha Khanna John Schroeder David Stinson Tracy Vosburgh and Peter Potter Tania Werbizky and Brad Edmondson Penelope Wickham and Thomas Kather

Friends of Historic Ithaca $100-$249

Judy Abrams Sarah Adams and Vicky Romanoff William and Nancy Bellamy Susan Blumenthal Kevin and Vicki Brew Gary Bucci

Judy Burns James and Terry Byrnes Ron and Shelley Cooper Robert and Vanne Cowie David Daly Clover Drinkwater Ed Finegan John Foote and Kristen Rupert Reeder and Sally Gates Jack and Inger Gilbert Jonathon Gutchess Peggy Haine Ron Herring and Valerie Bunce Dan Hoffman Rod Howe and Mark Pedersen Susan Jones and Ted Clark Carol Kammen Randi Kepecs and Paul Anderson Bill and Carol Klepack Daniel Krall and Howard Spurling David and Susan Kramer David Kuckuk and Sheila Danko Mildred Kuner Robert Langhans Richard Lazarus John and Jane Marcham Fred and Elizabeth McLafferty Nancy Medsker and Thomas Seaney Joseph and Emily Metz Vincent Mulcahy and Cindy Livermore Christine O'Malley Alphonse Pieper and Betsy Shrier Anne Posel Martha Preston Frank and Margaret Robinson Joel and Susan Schell Bruno Schickel and Amy Dickinson Marty Schlabach and Mary Jean Welser Robert Siedhoff Wendy Skinner and Don Lebow Stuart and Sandra Stein Patricia Sullivan

Marie Terlizzi and Robert Dobbs Herbert and Jean Voelcker Diane Wallace

Friends of Historic Ithaca up to $99 Paul Allderige Ishka Alpern and Autumn Newell R.J, Armstrong D.G. Bancroft-Gowin Sherene Baugher and Robert Venables Louise Bement Carol Bender and Howard Kessler LeGrace Benson Rodney Bent Michael Bergren Mary Berkelman Brian Bollo

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Special Thanks to Our Supporters

Barbara Brazill and Donald Ruff Nancy Brcak John Brennan Leo Brisette Dan Broadway and Alice King John Brennan Leo Brisette Dan Broadway and Alice King David and Joan Brumberg Margaret Butkereit E. Cadigan Scott Callan Robert Camp Kathy Carbaugh Christopher Carey and Joanne Trutko Jeff Chusid Ian Connerty Gerry and Caroline Cox Christine Croft Susan Cummings and Joseph Moro Sarah Dayton Sarah Delahanty Ken Deschere Barbara DeWall Andrew Diamond Brian and Jody Earle Fall Creek Associates Charles Faroul Paul Feeny and Mary Berens Howard and Rosalind Feinstein Myra Fincher Glenn and Cassandra Galbreath Richard and Jeri Gallucci Rich and Carol Garcia Robert Gearhart and Marybeth Tarzian Steven Gelber Gene and Jean German David and Nancy Gersh Stephen and Thresa Gibian Graham Gillespie Linda Godfrey Joy Goff Gregory Graffin Sol Gruner and Rosemarie Parker Larry and Lory Gunsalus Margaret Hampson Peder and Kendra Hansen Peter Harriott Howard Hartnett Tom Herson Thomas and Deborah Hoard John Holt William and Mary Hornbuckle Isabel Hull Kathleen Jacklin Bruce Johnson Sara Johnson and Nathan Dennis Deborah A. Jones Michael Kammen Dooley Kiefer

Leslie Kinsland Eric Kopelson David Kraskow and Liz Hess Rhonda Lathwell Deborah Levin Barbara Ley Life's So Sweet Chocolates Lois Lounsbery Janet Lowe Gwyneth Lymberis Chris Lyons Joanie Mackowski Pamela Markham Lawrence McCann Peter and Dorothy McClelland James and Gladys McConkey McInerny Funeral Home Sandra McKinley Ed and Anne McLaughlin Adrienne McNair Phyllis McNeill Johnathan and Marcia Meigs Lee and Sylvia Miller Joyce Morgenroth Elizabeth Muller Wayne Myers Barb Neal Norbert Nolte Mary Nygaard Christian Otto and Roberta Moudry Bettsie Park Petex Restoration LTD. Photosynthesis Productions, LLC Frank and Sigrid Popowitch Kate Potteiger John and Judith Reppy Louise Greene Richards Thomas Richmond Martha and Steven Robertson Louise Rollins Rosemary and Frank Rowland Daniel Salomon Les Sandman and Susan Stein Kirk Sapa Carol Scheele Joe and Leslie Schill Michael Sigler Andrew Simkin Donald Smith Michael Smith and Kristen Brennan Robert Smith Peter Specker Suzanne Spitz Robert and Jean Storandt Susan Straight Gregory Subtelny Jeremy Taylor and Mary Behan Taylor Tim Merrick Construction Michael and Mary Tomlan Mack and Carol Travis

Bruce and Martha Turnbull Twin Tiers Eye Care Don and Kandace Van Gorder Robbert van Renesse and Lesley Greene John Van Soest Olivia Vent Cindy Viza and Alexander Murdock Daniel and Gail Walker Martha Walker and John Barradas Peter Walz Dix and Barbara Wayman Lesley Williamson Kerry Wittig Joel and Cathy Zumoff

Gifts In Memory Of Lee Ayers Tania Werbizky and Brad Edmondson Clara Golay Michele Craig Jane Crawford Mary Curtiss Laurina Harper Carol and Dan Sisler John and June Willson Constance Lewis Molly and Barry Adams Millicent Vosburgh Julee Johnson George Werbizky Julee Johnson

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The programs of Historic Ithaca are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature

46 Years HI performs first survey of Ithaca’s historic buildings 1968

1971

HI begins fight to save

1866 Boardman House

1973

Old County Courthouse saved

from demolition; Clinton

House purchased for

extensive rehabilitation

1982

HI begins three decade relationship

assisting St. James AME Zion Church

1986

HI attempts to save three

historic buildings on

Cornell’s Ag Quad. After

10 month legal battle,

buildings are demolished

1991 Significant Elements opens

1993

Newfield’s Van Buskirk Gulf

Road Bridge restored; First

Old House Fair

1995

1832 West Dryden Community

Center, a former Methodist church,

is purchased and stabilized

1998

State Theatre purchased

and stabilized, re-opens

December 2001

2000

1817 Cradit-Moore

House in Town of

Ithaca moved to save it

from demolition

2002

Significant Elements

moves to current location,

an 1880s warehouse on

Center Street

2003

University Hill Local Historic District designated;

Newfield’s Zenas King Bowstring Bridge restored

2005

Ithaca Downtown Historic

District listed on the National

Register of Historic Places

2008

Clinton House is sold, yet

remains protected by covenants

2009

State Theatre is sold, yet remains

protected by covenants

2010

Work Preserve job training

program established Historic Ithaca celebrates 45th

anniversary and 20th anniversary

of Significant Elements 2011

HI completes an intensive-level survey of

12 Collegetown buildings and the Henry St.

John local historic district nomination as

consultant to the City of Ithaca 2012

1966

Historic Ithaca (HI) is founded in response to the demolition of several historic downtown buildings, including the Ithaca Hotel, Cornell

Public Library, and the old City Hall

Henry St. John Local Historic District designated;

HI’s Library of the Built Environment moves to

renovated, expanded space 2013

Markles Flats, also known as the old

Ithaca Gasworks, is demolished